Landscape Architect Articles

LASN Technology July 200807-17-08 | News

Realtime Landscaping Architect From Idea Spectrum

By Ashley Calabria with Idea Spectrum
Ashley Calabria, MLA, is an assistant professor at the University of Georgia School of Environmental Design and LASN?EUR??,,????'?????<

The software is a complete set of tools for designing lawns, buildings, decks, patios, edging, retaining walls and other landscaping features.

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LASN: Please give us a brief history of Idea Spectrum.

Realtime Landscaping Architect is a set of integrated software applications for designing landscape plans, 3D walkthroughs/presentations and photo-based landscape designs. Eleven ?EUR??,,????'?????<

IS: Idea Spectrum was founded in 2004. Our top goal is to make it easier for both homeowners and professional landscapers to design their landscapes. We work closely with the landscaping community to ensure every feature is easy to use and meets their needs.

Realtime Landscaping Architect was released in March 2008 and is the result of over four years of development. It is the first program to combine landscape plans, 3D presentations, real-time walkthroughs and photo-imaging in one integrated product.

LASN: Is Realtime Landscape Architect easy to learn? What technical support does Idea Spectrum offer?

IS: Realtime Landscape Architect includes online tutorials, comprehensive built-in help and a quick-start guide. The software is easy to use and no prior CAD experience is required. The wizards (11 in all) provide step-by-step directions for designing your landscape, adding plant labels, importing new materials and other common tasks. Free email and toll-free technical support is provided to all customers regarding all of our products.

The software includes over 12,000 objects and materials, including 5,700 high-resolution plants and 2,000 accessories. You can also import additional objects. Google?EUR??,,????'?????<

LASN: How do you create landscape plans using Architect?

IS: Architect includes a complete set of tools for designing lawns, buildings, decks, patios, edging, retaining walls and other landscaping features. The focus of Architect is on residential landscaping, but many of our customers use it for commercial design as well.

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LASN: How is this software different from traditional CAD?

IS: Unlike traditional CAD software, where objects consist of simple shapes such as lines and polygons, objects in Architect work at a much higher level. For example, decks are designed by drawing their outline, then everything else?EUR??,,????'?????<

LASN: How do you create 3D landscape designs?

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LASN: How do you create photo-based designs?

IS: Many designers pre-sell prospective clients using Architect?EUR??,,????'?????<

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LASN: Can you create landscape plans with a hand-drawn look?

IS: Yes, you can customize the plan view to match your design style. The software includes thousands of plant symbols, color washes, color pencil, markers and other materials you can use while designing your plan. You can use multiple themes in the same drawing. For example, you could use muted symbols for common plant material and brighter symbols for specimens. The drawing tools include freeform curves, so you get the benefits of a hand-drawn look along with the ability to easily make changes.

When you add objects or plant symbols, for example, to the plan view, the corresponding objects also appear in a 3D view.

LASN: Water features are becoming increasingly popular. Does the software support them?

IS: Yes. You can design irrigation systems, custom swimming pools, spas, ponds, waterfalls, fountains and more. Wizards are provided for adding pre-built objects, or you can design your own from scratch.

LASN: What client presentation tools are provided?

IS: There are several. You can print the plan view to any Windows-compatible ink-jet or laser printer. You can create movies and show clients a virtual walkthrough of your proposals and design ideas. Using the high-resolution screen shot feature, you can email clients pictures of the plan and 3D views from multiple perspectives.

During movies and walkthroughs of your 3D designs, water features ripple and flow realistically, birds fly through the air and you can even see fish swimming in the ponds. Clients often find this level of realism very impressive. Using the plant growth feature you can also show clients an estimation of what their landscape will look like after one to 20 years of growth.

LASN: What plants and other symbols are included?

IS: The software includes over 12,000 objects and materials, including 5,700 high-resolution plants and 2,000 accessories. You can expand the object library by importing your own custom plants, materials, 3D accessories and other items. You can create custom 3D objects using Google SketchUp and import them into Realtime Landscaping Architect. Google?EUR??,,????'?????<

LASN: Does the software support varying terrain elevations?

IS: Yes, you can design slopes, hills, raised flower beds, terraces and other features using the terrain sculpting tools. The tools work in real time and you can interactively adjust the terrain elevation at any location. Objects such as fencing, edging and retaining walls automatically conform to the underlying terrain.

LASN: Is Architect Compatible with AutoCAD?

IS: Not directly. Architect is much more focused than AutoCAD and similar CAD programs. For example, in AutoCAD a large number of steps are required to build a swimming pool. A hole must be cut in the terrain, the pool interior, coping, tile and other parts must be added manually. A special layer must be added for the water, and so forth. It is a time consuming, to say the least. With Architect, all of those steps are done automatically, so the file formats are inherently incompatible. However, you can add AutoCAD drawings to Architect?EUR??,,????'?????<

LASN: Do you offer a free trial?

IS: Yes, you can download the free trial of Realtime Landscaping Architect at www.IdeaSpectrum.com/trial.php.

LASN: Where can someone get more information on Idea Spectrum?

IS: More information about Idea Spectrum can be found at www.IdeaSpectrum.com. You can also call us at 1-866-894-4332, or e-mail sales@IdeaSpectrum.com.